Jackie Phamotse promotes latest book (while remaining under house arrest)

Sara-Jayne Makwala King speaks to best-selling author Jackie Phamotse about her latest book, The Tea Merchant.

Listen below.

She's a powerhouse of African literature, a best-selling author whose work delves into the life of blessers, blesses, human trafficking and the notorious Hockey Club. 

Her debut novel, BARE I: The Blesser’s Game, was published in 2017 and was awarded the African Icon Literary Award in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2018. From there the BARE series became a runaway success.

A few years, ten books, and 100,000 sales later, Jackie Phamotse is one of the best-selling authors in South Africa, and all without a major publisher behind her.

That was until last month when she officially signed a publishing deal with Penguin Random House.

Her first book under that deal (The Tea Merchant) has just been released.

But books aside, not everything Jackie has written has been so well received.

She's currently under house arrest after being found guilty of criminal defamation, crimen injuria and contempt of court for comments she wrote about socialite couple, Basetsana and Romeo Kumalo.

She explains how it is that she can join Makwala King in the studio:

"Thank goodness for the Constitution that gives us the liberty to work while we're still under house arrest.... lockdown trained me very, very well."

- Jackie Phamotse, Author

Phamotse says the trial was lengthy and costly.

"We're looking into millions... it was six years, 2018 to March this year... I was fined R30,000 and two years' house arrest."

- Jackie Phamotse, Author

ALSO READ: Jackie Phamotse hit with house arrest, fine for comments about Basetsana & Romeo Kumalo

The Tea Merchant takes her away from the City of Gold and into the tea fields of the Cederberg in the Western Cape.

It follows the story of nurse Luna Parks and naval captain Cameron Coal.

It's the first book published as part of her two-book deal with Penguin, but Phamotse reveals the publishing giant wasn't always keen to ink a deal with her.

"Penguin did reject BARE! I reminded them... them and many others rejected it. The story was too risque, at the time."

- Jackie Phamotse, Author

"... [they said], you're an amateur writer, we can't take a risk on you."

- Jackie Phamotse, Author

Phamotse says Penguin reached out to her amidst her legal dramas.

"[They said], we'd love to work with you, what are you writing right now? I said, are you aware I'm in the middle of a court case and they said, oh that has nothing to do with us."

- Jackie Phamotse, Author

Phamotse is currently on a mini-book tour of the Western Cape. The Tea Merchant is on sale now.

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Scroll up to listen to the interview from Weekend Breakfast with Sara-Jayne Makwala King.